We often overlook the useful things sitting around our homes. An empty box, an old cutting board, a binder clip, or even a lotion bottle can become something surprisingly handy with a little creativity.
DIY projects can also be a fun way to work with your hands and find practical solutions without spending much money. CNN has reported on research showing that arts and crafts can have meaningful mental health benefits, which gives you another reason to enjoy a project instead of buying a ready-made version.
If you like figuring things out for yourself, these 15 DIY inventions are a good place to start. Most use inexpensive items you probably already have at home.
Make a DIY Smartphone Projector
Want to watch something on a bigger screen without buying a projector? A shoebox, magnifying glass, and a few basic crafting materials can turn your phone into a simple homemade projector.
Start by cutting a hole in one end of the shoebox that’s large enough for the magnifying glass. Secure the lens in place, then make a holder inside the box to keep your phone upright and facing the lens. You can paint the inside of the box dark to help improve the image.
The finished picture won’t compete with a real projector, but it’s a fun little experiment for a movie night or a rainy afternoon.
Make a Simple Phone Speaker
If your phone’s built-in speaker isn’t quite loud enough, try making a basic sound amplifier from things around the house.
Take a cardboard paper towel roll and cut a slot in the middle that’s wide enough to hold your phone. Place the roll inside a ceramic bowl with your phone sitting in the slot. The bowl can help direct the sound outward, making your phone audio easier to hear.
It’s a simple trick for listening to music, podcasts, or videos without connecting another device.
Build a Phone Stand With Binder Clips
A couple of large binder clips can become a surprisingly useful phone stand. This works well for video calls, watching recipes in the kitchen, or keeping a screen visible while you’re working.
Use a small piece of cardboard or thin wood as the base. Attach the binder clips so they can grip the phone without covering the screen. Adjust the angle until your phone sits securely.
It’s inexpensive, takes only a few minutes to make, and gives old office supplies another use.
Make a Makeshift Phone Tripod
You don’t always need a proper tripod to keep a phone steady for a quick photo or video. A plastic hanger and a few rubber bands can create a basic stand in a pinch.
Remove the bottom section of the hanger and bend the remaining material into a shape that can support your phone. Use rubber bands to hold the phone in place and make sure everything is stable before taking a picture.
This is also a fun example of the growing interest in repurposing everyday objects instead of throwing them away.
Create a DIY Cord Organizer
A drawer full of tangled charging cables can get frustrating fast. An old sunglasses case or small box can give those cords a much better home.
Cut small openings in the lid or side of the container, then thread each cable through its own opening. The cords stay together without becoming one giant knot, and you can see which cable you need without digging through a drawer.
It’s a small project, but it can make a messy desk or nightstand much easier to manage.
Turn an Old Cutting Board Into a Tablet Stand
An old cutting board can get a second life as a tablet stand, especially if you like following recipes while cooking.
Sand the board if needed, then add a small ledge along the bottom to keep the tablet from sliding forward. You can leave the wood natural or paint it to suit your kitchen.
The Upcycle That community has highlighted how giving old items another purpose can reduce waste while saving money. This project is a good example of that idea.
Make Your Own Whiteboard
A homemade whiteboard can be useful for grocery lists, reminders, meal planning, homework, or brainstorming.
One option is to use a white shower board from a hardware store. You can cut it to the size you need and add a frame around it. Another simple option is to place a sheet of white paper or a printed design inside a picture frame and write directly on the glass with a dry-erase marker.
Making your own board also gives you control over its size and appearance, so it can fit wherever you have room.
Turn a Lotion Bottle Into a Charging Holder
An empty lotion bottle can become a handy holder for your phone while it charges.
Wash and dry the bottle thoroughly, then cut away the upper portion and create an opening large enough for your charging cable. Shape the remaining plastic so the phone can sit securely inside the holder.
Once finished, the holder can hang near an outlet, keeping your phone off the floor or countertop while it charges. Be careful when cutting the plastic and make sure the finished edges aren’t sharp.
Make a Desk Organizer From Toilet Paper Rolls
Before tossing those empty toilet paper rolls into the recycling bin, turn them into a simple desk organizer.
Cover the rolls with wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, fabric, or paint. Arrange several rolls together and glue them to a piece of cardboard. Each section can hold pens, pencils, markers, scissors, or other small office supplies.
It’s an easy afternoon project, and you can change the colors and patterns to match your workspace.
Make a Safer DIY Laptop Stand
A laptop stand can raise your screen and make your desk setup more comfortable. If you need a temporary option, sturdy cardboard can be turned into a basic stand.
Use a thick cardboard box and cut several pieces to create a sloped platform. Reinforce the structure with additional layers so it doesn’t collapse under the laptop’s weight. The stand should sit securely on a flat surface and leave the laptop’s ventilation openings unobstructed.
Avoid placing a laptop on anything that blocks its vents, and don’t use ice, frozen bottles, or liquids near your computer. Heat management is better handled by keeping the vents clear and giving the laptop plenty of airflow.
Make an Outdoor Movie Screen
You don’t need a fancy screen for a backyard movie night. A clean white sheet or shower curtain can work as a simple projection surface.
Hang it against a wall, fence, or between two sturdy supports. Pull it tight enough to reduce wrinkles, then position your projector so the image fills the screen.
Add some chairs, blankets, and snacks, and you’ve got an inexpensive setup for watching movies outside with friends or family.
Make a Touchscreen Stylus
Need a stylus but don’t want to buy one? You can make a basic version from a cotton swab and aluminum foil.
Wrap aluminum foil around the cotton swab, leaving one end smooth and covered. The foil needs to make contact with your hand while the tip touches the screen. Make sure the tip is soft and free of anything that could scratch the display.
This can be useful for quick touchscreen tasks, drawing, or navigating a device when you don’t want to use your finger.
Turn an Old Book Cover Into a Phone Case
An old book cover can become the starting point for a personalized phone case. This works particularly well if you have a damaged book that you don’t plan to keep intact.
Measure your phone carefully, then cut the cover to the appropriate size. Add elastic straps or another secure method to hold the phone in place.
The result won’t have the same protection as a professionally made case, so use it more as a decorative option than heavy-duty protection. Still, it’s a fun way to give an old book cover another purpose.
Make a DIY Laptop Stand
A second option for a homemade laptop stand is to use thick cardboard and build a simple angled frame.
Measure your laptop first, then cut the cardboard so the base is wide enough to support it. Add several layers where extra strength is needed, especially underneath the front and back edges.
A raised screen can make a home workstation more comfortable, particularly for people who spend a lot of time working from a laptop. For longer work sessions, pair the stand with a separate keyboard and mouse so you aren’t reaching up to type.
With remote work remaining common, simple home-office projects like this can save money while making a workspace more comfortable. HR Morning has also covered several benefits associated with working from home.
Make a Makeshift Ring Light
Good lighting can make a huge difference during video calls, livestreams, and photos. You can make a basic ring-style light with a hula hoop and string lights.
Wrap the string lights around the hoop, secure them in place, and position the finished ring behind or around your phone or camera. Keep the lights at a comfortable brightness and make sure the setup is stable before using it.
You won’t get the same control as you would from a professional lighting kit, but this can be a fun low-cost option for casual video calls or content creation.
The demand for content creation tools has also grown in recent years. Future Market Insights projects the content creation market to grow at a CAGR of 12.4% between 2023 and 2033, with the market projected to rise from US$1,66,11.5 million in 2023 to US$5,36,23.3 million by 2033.
Everyday Items Can Become Useful DIY Projects
You don’t need a workshop full of expensive equipment to make something useful. A few ordinary items, some basic tools, and a willingness to experiment can turn things you’d normally overlook into practical household solutions.
Some projects are useful for organizing, others can help with phones and computers, and a few are simply fun to make. Repurposing items you already own can also keep usable materials out of the trash and save you a trip to the store.
The next time something around the house seems useless, take another look before throwing it away. It might be the missing piece for your next DIY project.
